Step-ladder



(No Model.)

W. R. ALLAN.

STEP LADDER.

No. 369,491. Patented Sept. 6, 1887.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

ATTONEYS.

' UNITED STATES ATEN'T rarest WILLIAM It. ALLAN, OF PITTSTON,PENNSYLVANIA.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 369,491, datedSeptember 6, 1887.

Application filed May 4, 1887. Serial No. 237,081. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. ALLAN, of Iittston, in the county ofLuzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and ImprovedStep-Ladder, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of the invention is to provide a step-ladder in which thesupporting-legs can be swung toward and from each other, in addition tohaving a hinged connection with the ladder, whereby, when the ladder isset up for use, it will be steadily supported, and when folded togetherwill occupy but little room.

The invention consists, essentially, in a stepladdcr provided withsupporting-legs which may swing toward and from each other.

The invention also consists in the construction and combination ofparts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a step-ladder constructed inaccordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a detail view showing theconstruction of one of the braces.

To the ladder A, which may be of the usual construction, is hinged,beneath the platform B, a depending frame, G, having cross-pieces c c.To the upper cross-piece c of the frame 0 is secured a metal plate, D,to which plate are pivotally secured the supporting-legs E E oftheladder. By reason of the supporting-legs E E being pivoted at theupper ends, the said legs are adapted to fold toward and from eachother, and as the frame 0, which carries said legs, is hinged to theladder A, the said legs, in addition to swinging on their pivots towardand from each other, are also adapted to swing toward and from theladder A.

To provide for strengthening the supporting-legs in their separated orexpanded position, I have provided the brace F, pivoted at the outerends to the said legs and hingejointed at the center, so as to bend orfold upward when the legs E E are swung toward each other. To the braceF, at the hinge-joint thereof, is pivoted the vertical adjusting-bar G,the one pivot f serving to hinge the two members of the brace E togetherand to so cure thereto the lower end of the adjustingbar G. The upperend of the adjusting-bar G passes between guiderollers c a, securedbetween the lower crosspieces c of frame C. At the upper end the bar Gis formed with a series of apertures, g, by means of which apertures apin, g, in the lower cross-piece e secures the said adj usting-bar in aset position. When the supporting-legs E E are expanded fully or swungapart to the fullest extent to which the brace F will allow, the bar Gis locked by the pin ,7, or where the space at command will not admit ofthe full expansion of the supporting-legs E E the said legs mav beexpanded as far as possible and the pin passed into the aperture 5 thatcomes opposite said pin. It will be seen, therefore, that by thisconstruction the supporting-legs E E of the ladder maybe expanded totheir fullest capacity, or to the extent that the space at command maypermit, and may be locked in the set position.

The lower ends of the depending frame 0 are connected with ladder A bythe braces H, the said braces being each divided at the center and thedivided ends pivoted to a U-shaped fastening, J,which,while allowing ofthe braces H being bent or folded upward, will prevent the said bracesfrom accidentally folding.

By constructing the siq'Jporting-legs t spread apart they form a widersupport in proportion to the width of the ladder than is possible withrigid supporting-legs with any economy of space.

Sockets K are fixed on the sides of the ladder A, for receiving abracket, I, for the support of a pail, paint-pot, or like article.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a ladder, of a frame hinged thereto to swing toand from the ladder and. supporting-legs hinged to the said frame toswing to and from each other, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

2. The combination, with the ladder. of a frame hinged thereto andprovided on one of the cross-pieces thereof with a metallic plate, andthe supporting-legs pivoted to said plate substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. The combination, with the ladder A, of

ICO

the frame 0, hinged thereto, the support-ing- 5. The combination, withthe ladder A, of

legs E E, pivotally secured to said frame and the hinged frame 0, thesupporting-legs E E, provided with the adjusting-bar G, and bracepivoted to said frame, and the hinged braces F, substantially as shownand described. F H, substantially as shown and described. 5 42. Thecombination, with the ladder A, of

the hinged frame 0, provided with rollers c 0, WILLIAM B. ALLAN.

the pivoted supporting -1egs E E, provided with a brace, E, and theadjusting-bar G, the Witnesses;

latter being secured to the brace F and work- J. N. ANDERSON, :0 ingbetween. the rollers c a, substantially as 8.1. PARKE.

shown and described.

